MLB Player News
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Swipes two bags
Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers.
Ohtani reached on a fielding error from Joey Ortiz in his first at-bat before coming around to score the Dodgers' first run on a Teoscar Hernandez walk three batters later. The superstar slugger would then go on to steal second and third after drawing a walk in his second trip to the plate, giving him 35 stolen bases on the season. It also marked his sixth multi-steal effort of the campaign, and he's now scored at least one run in three straight games. Ohtani is batting just .176 (9-for-51) so far in August, though he's still racked up five homers, 10 RBI, eight runs and seven stolen bases over that stretch.
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Kyle Schwarber LF | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Turns tide with grand slam
Schwarber went 1-for-5 with a grand slam in a 9-5 win against the Marlins on Wednesday.
Schwarber struck out in three of his five plate appearances, but he also had the biggest hit in the game, crushing a grand slam in the fourth inning that turned a three-run Phillies deficit into a one-run lead. The long ball was his first in six games since Schwarber slugged three homers against the Dodgers on Aug. 7, and it also snapped a four-game hitless stretch during which he went 0-for-14. Of Schwarber's last 13 hits, nine (six home runs and three doubles) have gone for extra bases.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Drives in two, scores twice
Pederson went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Rockies.
Pederson set the tone for the Diamondbacks in the 11-4 victory, opening the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning. The 32-year-old has started eight of 12 games in August as he continues to platoon with Randal Grichuk. Pederson has excelled this month, batting .324 with four home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored and a 6:9 BB:K in 37 plate appearances.
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Travis Blankenhorn DH | WAS
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Losing out on playing time
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, this time against a right-handed starter (Dean Kremer) after he sat out Tuesday's 9-3 win while lefty Trevor Rogers took the hill for the Orioles. After getting called up from Triple-A Rochester on July 30, Blankenhorn had a brief run as a strong-side platoon player at designated hitter, but he's gone just 3-for-28 with eight strikeouts and is beginning to lose out on playing time as a result. He could be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A once Joey Gallo (hamstring) is ready to return from the injured list.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: In Wednesday's lineup
Martinez (elbow) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's contest against the Athletics.
Martinez was lifted from Tuesday's game after being struck on the left elbow by a pitch, but he's back in there without having to miss any starts. The 36-year-old's production has fallen off since the start of July, as he's slashed just .221/.328/.354 across 33 contests.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Getting rest day
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
With the Pirates wrapping up their series in San Diego with a day game after a night game, McCutchen will receive some routine maintenance. The 37-year-old has been in the midst of a heater to begin August, slashing .370/.485/.741 with three home runs, nine RBI and six runs over eight games.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Resting against lefty
Blackmon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Blackmon went 0-for-4 while starting against lefty Eduardo Rodriguez in Tuesday's 4-3 loss, but the former will hit the bench for the series finale while Arizona sends another southpaw (Jordan Montgomery) to the bump. Hunter Goodman will replace Blackmon as the Rockies' designated hitter.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Belts 37th homer
Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a 7-2 win against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Ohtani gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a 413-foot solo shot. It was his 37th long ball of the campaign, most in the National League and second in the majors behind Aaron Judge (42). Ohtani also has 33 stolen bases, giving him a legitimate chance of recording the sixth 40-40 season in major-league history.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Removed with bruised elbow
Martinez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Athletics after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Martinez took a 100-mph fastball off his left elbow during the second inning and remained in the game to run the bases, eventually coming around to score on a Jose Iglesias single. However, he was pinch hit for by Mark Vientos in the third frame. Martinez was able to escape the incident with only a bruise, so he shouldn't need to miss much time -- if any at all.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: On bench vs. lefty
Pederson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Pederson has gone 10-for-30 with four homers through 10 games in August but will sit Tuesday as lefty Austin Gomber pitches for Colorado. Randal Grichuk will receive another turn at designated hitter as the two continue to platoon at the position.